Determinants of Voluntary HIV/AIDS Counseling and Testing among Community College Students in the United States.

George Chidi Anwuri, Phd,Frederick Schulze, Ed.D,Michael S Dunn, Phd

doi:10.21106/ijma.212

Abstract

Background:Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing remains the best public health preventive strategy in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We assessed the factors that determined voluntary counseling and screening/testing for HIV among college students.Methods:In this cross-sectional study, a purposeful sample of 189 college students was analyzed using three health belief model (HBM) variables as the theoretical framework.Results:All the HBM variables were positively associated with intention to test for HIV, and with perceived benefits (p = 0.023) having the strongest association.Conclusion and Global Health Implications:The results of this study underscore the important factors that predict intention to screen for HIV among college students. Understanding the factors that influence intention for HIV testing is useful in formulating public health policies and in the design of programs and interventions aimed at increasing the number of people who get tested for HIV.

Highlights

As the world enters four decades since the first case of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was diagnosed, HIV and AIDS remain a major public health problem both in the United States (U.S.) and globally.[1]
Regarding the health belief model (HBM) construct of perceived benefits, the data indicated that about 77% of the respondents agreed that HIV testing makes people feel better, while 60% of them agreed that HIV testing helps to prevent infection with the virus that causes AIDS
About 91% of the respondents agreed that HIV/AIDS is a severe health problem, while 89% agreed that HIV/AIDS is a disease with significant consequences

Summary

Introduction

As the world enters four decades since the first case of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) was diagnosed, HIV and AIDS remain a major public health problem both in the United States (U.S.) and globally.[1]. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1.2 million individuals are infected with HIV, and about 312,000, or 26%, of this number are undiagnosed.[3]. African Americans, more than any other ethnic group in the United States, bear the greatest burden of HIV/AIDS. According to the CDC, in 2008, out of the 42,439 newly diagnosed HIV infections in the 37 states and US dependent areas with confidential name-based reporting, 19% were Hispanics/ Latinos.[5, 6]. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) testing remains the best public health preventive strategy in the fight against HIV/AIDS.We assessed the factors that determined voluntary counseling and screening/testing for HIV among college students

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion